6 from Cebu yield P500 million drugs

CEBU, Philippines — Police have beefed up security patrols in all entry points to Central Visayas following a foiled attempt to smuggle at least 88 kilos of illegal drugs to Cebu from Leyte.

Police Colonel Ildebrande Usana, Deputy Regional Director for Administration, also ordered a background investigation against the six suspected drug smugglers from Cebu who were arrested Thursday afternoon during a checkpoint conducted by the operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Eastern Visayas.

PDEA-8 identified the suspects as Jeralou Rapuela, Elbert Abella, Leonardo Delos Reyes, Cesar Uy, Steven Perez, and a minor whose name withheld by The Freeman. According to PDEA-8, their operatives had been monitoring the suspects since September after verified reports that they pass through the area with the illegal drugs intended for Cebu.

Reports had it that the  estimated P500M worth of drugs were to be shipped to Cebu via Camotes.

Police Colonel Roderick Mariano, Cebu Provincial Police Office Chief, said they have not received any information about the suspects yet. He said they will also check if the drugs seized from them are really bound for Cebu.

Nevertheless, Mariano said he directed all the police chiefs to intensify the security patrol in the ports and other possible entry points. He also asked the security personnel of the Cebu Ports to conduct a thorough inspection of the passengers’ baggages. FPL (FREEMAN)